Pet nuisance
- Try speaking to your neighbour or leaving a polite note - they may not be aware of the issue
- If you feel unsafe or unable to approach them, contact us. Your Neighbourhood Officer can help
- Arrange independent mediation to help find a solution
- Ask the pet owner to agree to an Acceptable Behaviour Agreement
- Involve the RSPCA or the police if animal welfare or safety concerns arise
Formal legal action is always a last resort and only considered when nuisance is evidenced.
If you believe that a dog is dangerous and it has bitten or attacked someone, you need to report this to the police immediately as it may be a criminal offence, and they are the appropriate resource to investigate this.
XL Bully dogs, a type of American Bully breed, often fall under Breed-Specific Legislation (BSL) due to their appearance or perceived breed characteristics.
Here's a general overview of common legislation and advice in the UK:
- It’s a criminal offence to own or possess an XL Bully dog in England and Wales unless you have a valid Certificate of Exemption.
- From 31 December 2023, owners must keep XL Bully dogs on a lead and muzzled when in public. It's also an offence to breed, sell, advertise, exchange, gift, rehome, abandon, or allow XL Bully dogs to stray
- From 31 January 2024, it's illegal to own an XL Bully unless it's registered on the Index of Exempted dogs and is compliant with the requirements
- From 1 February 2024 owners without certificate of exemption face a criminal record and an unlimited fine if they're found to be in possession of an XL Bully, and their dog could be seized.
- If your dog is older than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 30 June 2024
- If your dog is less than one year old on 31 January 2024, it must be neutered by 31 December 2024
Report to the police on 101 if:
- You believe the dog doesn’t have a valid Certificate of Exemption
- You witness the dog in public or communal areas unsupervised
- You witness the dog in public without a muzzle
- If you believe that someone is selling, advertising or breeding an XL Bully
You can also get in touch with us for tenancy-related action, but the police will lead investigations.
VIVID staff and/or contractors may need to visit you in your home to complete a repair or complete a routine tenancy visit. If you own an XL Bully or any other large dog, so please make sure you do the following
- Ensure that you advise the staff member or contractor on their arrival that you have a dog
- Ensure that the dog is muzzled for the duration of the visit
- Place them in a separate secure room, kennel or cage for the duration of the visit
- Ensure you have any Certificates of Exemption to hand to show to the staff member or contractor if requested
By reporting you can help:
- Prevent harm to people and animals
- Protect community safety and wellbeing
- Us to work with agencies like the RSPCA and police to address welfare concerns
- People living with nuisance pets, as they may also experience stress, intimidation, or financial abuse (e.g., being pressured to pay for damage or care). Reporting helps us safeguard vulnerable individuals and signpost them to support
- Ensure responsible pet ownership and compliance with the law
- RSPCA – Animal welfare advice - https://www.rspca.org.uk/
- Police UK – Report dangerous dogs or animal-related crime - https://www.police.uk/
- Victim Support – Help for anyone affected by crime or intimidation - https://www.victimsupport.org.uk/
- Government guidance on XL Bully Dogs – Breed-specific legislation - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/ban-on-xl-bully-dogs
Get more advice on dealing with nuisance caused by pets on the government website.
